Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

The MBLC was delighted to award Senator Jake Oliveira with the 2025 Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast Award at the MBLC’s 135th Anniversary Commissioner Awards Ceremony just last November! Since his inaugural speech on the senate floor, Senator Oliveira has championed libraries by supporting library funding and the freedom to read by advocating for library bills protecting libraries and library staff against censorship. For more on his important work for libraries, visit the MBLC Blog at: https://lnkd.in/ewmqiAgC Image: Senator Jake Oliveira (left) accepting the Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast Commissioner Award at the MA State House next to MBLC Chair Vicky Biancolo on November 6, 2025. #135MBLC #135YearsOfTheMBLC #135YearsMBLCLibraries #MBLCLibraries #LibrariesinMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #MassachusettsLibraries #LibraryChampion #LibraryAdvocate #LibariesForAll #LibrariesAreForEveryone #LibrariesForAll #LibraryService #LibraryServices #MASenate #MASenator #MassachusettsSenate #LibraryLegislation #LegislationForLibraries #LibraryBills #LibraryRights #RightToRead #IntellectualFreedom #Censorship #BookBanning #BookBans Jake Oliveira

Library Director Alex is dedicated to transforming the library into a vibrant hub of learning and connection. Learn how Alex’s passion for literacy and education has helped empower and uplift his community. 🎥 You can watch Alex’s Careers in Libraries interview here→ https://lnkd.in/eY9ji-MX  🔗 Explore more library career paths → https://lnkd.in/eVTVpN3Y    Share your own journey to working in libraries on social media using the hashtag #MyLibraryCareer and tag us @mblclibraries!  Select videos will be featured on MBLC socials 🤳    Image: Alex speaking about what his work as a library director means to him and his community.  #MyLibraryCareers #CareersInLibraries #LibraryWork #MassachusettsLibraries #MBLCLibraries #LibrariesInMA #MAPublicLibraries #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesinMA #PublicLibrariesMassachusetts #libraryServices #InclusiveLibraryServices #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #LibraryWork #LibraryCareers #LibraryWork #LibraryCommunity @simmonsslis 

Congratulations to MBLC Commissioner Joyce Linehan who was appointed by Governor Healey to serve on the Mass Cultural Council. https://lnkd.in/eU2VrM8k

Take a collective breath with Somerville Public Library’s very own social worker, Jake Savage, on *April 8 at 2PM* and familiarize yourself with trauma and the concept of trauma-informed engagement to develop strategies for working with library patrons.  For more info and to register to attend: https://lnkd.in/eyN9Q64s  #LibraryCommunityWork #LibraryCommunityPartnerships #LibraryCommunity #LibraryPartnerships #LibraryAllyship #LIbraryPartnership #LibraryUnderservedPopulations #LibraryUnderserved #BuildingCommmunitySupport #AllyshipAtYourLibrary #MassachusettsLibraries #MassachusettsLibrary #MALibrary #MALibraries #MBLCLibraries #LibrariesInMA #MALibraryWork #LibraryCare #LibrarySupport #LibraryWork #LibraryCommunity 

The American Revolutionary War began in April of 1775 when the first shots of the war are fired at Lexington and Concord, right here in Massachusetts. Explore more of the rich history of the rebellion in Massachusetts to the founding of our early republic with the MA250 reading list at: https://lnkd.in/eXPphrA5 Image: Book covers from the MA250 From Rebellion to Early Republic reading list. Titles displayed include If You Were a Kid During the American Revolution, 1776, The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities, Black Patriots and Loyalists: Fighting for Emancipation in the War for Independence, Chains, Anna Strong: A Day During the American Revolution, and They Called Her Molly Pitcher.  #MA250  #MassachusettsReads #ReadingTheRevolution #MAWriters #MAAuthors #MAThinkers #MABooklists #MassachusettsAuthors #MassachusettsBookList #MA250BookList #ReadingTheRevolutionBookList #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #MA250 #ReadNative #MassachusettsReads #ReadingTheRevolution #MAWriters #MAAuthors #MAThinkers #MABooklists #MassachusettsAuthors #MassachusettsBookList #MA250BookList #ReadingTheRevolutionBookList 

The MBLC was pleased to award The Massachusetts Trans Librarian Group with the 2025 Samuel Sweet Green Award at the MBLC’s 135th Anniversary Commissioner Awards Ceremony!  Robin Goodfellow “Puck” Malamud and Ren O’Brien accepted the award on the group’s behalf at the ceremony. It was a joy to honor them for their deep commitment to inclusive library services across the Commonwealth. For more, visit the MBLC Blog at: https://lnkd.in/ewCq6fQf Image: Ren O’Brien (left), Robin Goodfellow “Puck” Malamud (middle) accepting the Samuel Swett Green Commissioner Award on behalf of The Massachusetts Trans Librarian Group at the MA State House next to MBLC Commissioner Jessica Vilas Novas on November 6, 2025. #135MBLC #135YearsOfTheMBLC #135YearsMBLCLibraries #MBLCLibraries #LibrariesinMA #MALibraries #MALibrary #MassachusettsLibraries #LibraryChampion #LibraryAdvocate #LibariesForAll #LibrariesAreForEveryone #LibrariesForAll #LibraryService #LibraryServices #MATransLibrarians #MATransLibrariansGroup #MALibrarians #MassachusettsLibrarians #LibrariansInMA #TransLibrarians

https://lnkd.in/eX72jrNf Congratulations Lawrence!

Licensed School Library Teachers like Georgina teach students core life skills that go beyond the classroom.  Learn more about the meaningful work she does every day with youth in her Careers in Libraries video. 🎥 You can watch Georgina’s interview here→ https://lnkd.in/ewqvjACR  🔗 Explore more library career paths at → https://lnkd.in/eVTVpN3Y    Share your own journey to working in libraries on social media using the hashtag #MyLibraryCareer and tag us @mblclibraries!  Select videos will be featured on MBLC socials 🤳    Image: Georgina speaking about the importance of information and research skills for teens in high school advocating for themselves.  #MyLibraryCareers #CareersInLibraries #LibraryWork #MassachusettsLibraries #MBLCLibraries #LibrariesInMA #MAPublicLibraries #MassachusettsPublicLibraries #PublicLibrariesinMA #PublicLibrariesMassachusetts #libraryServices #InclusiveLibraryServices #MassachusettsPublicLibrary #LibraryWork #LibraryCareers #LibraryWork #LibraryCommunity @simmonsslis 

Library managers, directors and trustees are invited to join the MBLC on *March 11 at 11AM* to explore what meaningful allyship looks like for LGBTQ+ library staff, how library spaces are an essential part of allyship, and what can be done to make your workplaces safer and more LGBTQIA+ affirming. For more info and to register to attend: https://lnkd.in/exDBJJq8  #LibraryCommunityWork #LibraryCommunityPartnerships #LibraryCommunity #LibraryPartnerships #LibraryAllyship #LIbraryPartnership #LibraryUnderservedPopulations #LibraryUnderserved #BuildingCommmunitySupport #AllyshipAtYourLibrary #MassachusettsLibraries #MassachusettsLibrary #MALibrary #MALibraries #MBLCLibraries #LibrariesInMA #MALibraryWork #LibraryCare #LibrarySupport #LibraryWork #LibraryCommunity 

Celebrate Women's History Month by diving into the MA250 Women’s Rights Reading List! 📚✨ Explore the history and stories that honor the incredible journey of women advocating for equality.  🔗 Check out the books on the Women’s Rights reading list at massbook.org/250  Image: Book covers from the MA250 Women's Rights reading list. Titles displayed include The ABC’s of Women’s History, Ain’t I a Woman, Girls to the Front, Sister Outsider, Working 9 to 5: A Women’s movement, a labor union and the iconic movie, The Bell Jar and Marching with Aunt Susan.  #WomensHistory #WomensHistoryMonth #WomensHistoryReads #WomensHistoryBooks #WomensHistoryAuthors #MA250  #MassachusettsReads #ReadingTheRevolution #MAWriters #MAAuthors #MAThinkers #MABooklists #MassachusettsAuthors #MassachusettsBookList #MA250BookList #ReadingTheRevolutionBookList #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #MA250 #ReadNative #MassachusettsReads #ReadingTheRevolution #MAWriters #MAAuthors #MAThinkers #MABooklists #MassachusettsAuthors #MassachusettsBookList #MA250BookList #ReadingTheRevolutionBookList Massachusetts Center for the Book